NMC responds to RCN report on nursing workforce supply in England

5 February 2018

Commenting on the Royal College of Nursing’s report ‘Left to chance: the health and care nursing workforce supply in England’ NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, Jackie Smith said:

“Yet again we see from the report published today the multiple challenges facing the health and care sectors, that are struggling to recruit and retain nurses. We know from our own data that nurses are choosing to leave the profession; reversing that trend is essential. Investing in CPD will not only go a way to reversing that trend but it will equip nurses with the right skills to keep patients safe.

“It’s our job to make sure the nurses of tomorrow have the right skills and knowledge needed to deliver care in a fast changing landscape. That’s why we’re modernising our standards of education and training so that nurses have the skills required not just for today, but tomorrow and well into the future. Nurse education cannot stand still.

“Nursing associates must support not substitute registered nurses, however, employers should look carefully at the skills mix needed to ensure the delivery of safe and effective care.

“We’ll be ready to welcome the first nursing associates on to our register in January 2019, but the Government must now press ahead with the necessary changes to our legislation to make us the regulator in law for this new role.”

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent professional regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK. We exist to protect the public. We do this by maintaining the register of qualified nurses and midwives and setting standards of education, training, conduct and performance. We make sure that nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date through a regular revalidation process. If concerns are raised about the standards of a registered nurse or midwife, we have a duty to investigate and, where necessary, take action to protect the public.